Explosive-engine.



A. E. WINCKLER.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN..1911.

Patented Mar. 7,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I A. E. WINCKLER.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION man 1AN.7,11911.

1,174,459., Y Patented Mar. 7,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fix

AAGE E. WINCKLER, OF RACINE, I'IISCONSIN,l ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 J. I. CASE THRESHING- MACHINE COMPANY, F RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION.

EXPLOSIVE-ENGINE.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, AAGE E. WINcxLER,

- A a subject of the King of Denmark, and a resident of Racine, county of Racine, and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosive- Engines, of which the following is a desimple and effective means which may be" readily operated while the motor is running to vary the effective length of the crank of the engine and thereby adjust the stroke of the engine pistons. By this means the compression can be uniformly maintained in spite of variations in the density of the air at dierent altitudes.

lThe invention consists in the features hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the preferred form in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is 'a view in elevation of an aeronautic motor to which the present improvement is applied, with one of the cylinders and the crank casing shown in section. Fig.- 2 is a detail section through the engine crank shaft and crank.

A Fig. 3 isa detail view with parts shown in the engine section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. I

While the present improvement 1s appl 1 cable `to other types of exploslve englnes, 1t

is more particularly applicable to the type' of aeronaut motor illustrated and which comprises a circular series of cylinders 1,

arranged in a common plane. lThe cylinders are mounted in substantial radial positionupon a crank case 2. The pistons 3 in the cylinders are provided with connecting rods 4. coupledy thereto by wrist pins 5 and all arranged to engage a common crank on crank shaft 6.v The crank shaft is journaled in suitable bearings 7 formed upon the ends or heads 8 of the crank casing. lVithin the crank casing the shaft 6 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1916.

Application led January 7, 1911'. Serial No. 601,425.

. is provided with two crank arms 9 and the connecting rods 5 all engage a common eccentrlc bearing member which is rotatably mounted upon the crank arms.

i Preferably, the common bearing member 1s 1n the form of a sleeve 10 eccentrically and rotatably mounted upon a crank pin 11 .that extends between the ends of the arms 9.

In the form shown, a series of rings 12 are mounted upon the eccentric sleeve 10 and theseveral connecting rods 5 are suitably se- Icured to the different rings. By rotating the eccentric sleeve 10, the effective length of the crank and the stroke of the pistons 3 can be adjusted, as desired, to vary the compression space between the pistons and the heads of the cylinders and thereby vary the compression 1f the airis of uniform density, or maintain the` compression uniformv when the air density varies.

A suitable adjusting member having its axis of rotation concentric with that of the engine crank shaft'extends within the crank casing and is connected or geared to the sleeve 10 to rotatably adjust the'same. This adjusting member is preferably in the form of a shaft 13 extending axially through one end ofthe crank shaft 6 and having a spur pinion 14 on its inner end which meshes with the teeth of a spur gear 15 upon the adjacent end of the eccentric -sleeve 410. Means are provided for rotating the shaft 13 relatively to the engine crank shaft 6, but which normally holds the shaft 13 in fixed relation to the crank shaft. The eccentric sleeve 10 is thus normally maintained in fixed relation to the crank pin 11, but by rotating the shaft 13 relatively to the crank shaft, the'sleeve 10 may be rota-j tably adjusted relatively to the crank pin to thereby vary the length of the stroke of the piston. In this way, the compression may be varied or, with an aeronautic motor, the compression may be maintained uniform in spite of any variation in the density of the air at different altitudes.

With this 'form of engine, the crank shaft can be xed and the engine cylinder and pistons revolved about the same or the frame and cylinders may be ixed and the crank shaft revolved. yIn the first instance, suitable means will 'be provided for rotating -erally through longitudinal slots 19 formed in the outer end of the engine crank shaft.

By this arrangement the nut is connected to the crank shaft to rotate therewith, but may be moved longitudinally or in axialdirection to effect the relative rotation of the adjusting screw shaft 13.. f

The ends of the studs 18 engage openings in a sleeve 20 slidably mounted upon the end of the crank shaft. A split collar 21 engages an annular groove in the sleeve 2O and suitable means are provided for shifting this collar. ln the form shown, the collar is provided on one side with a nut 22 which is engaged by a screw 23. This screw is journaled at its ends in a bracket 24: formed upon one of the heads 8 of the crank casing. A hand wheel 25 and a collar 26 are fixed to the outer end of the screw 23 on opposite sides of its outer bearing to hold the screw against longitudinal movelment. By rotating the screw 23 by means of the hand. wheel 25 the sleeve nut 17 is shifted longitudinally and the adjusting screw shaft 13 is rotated to therebyrotatably adjust the eccentric sleeve 10 through the medium of the intermeshing gears 14: and 15. The gearing greatly reduces the motion imparted to the eccentric sleeve 10 from the hand wheel 25, so that the eccentric may be readily adjusted with great nicety. lf the crank shaft is stationary and the casing and cylinders arranged to revolve,

the means for shifting the sleeve nut 17 should of course be mounted upon some staof the gear 14 at the inner end of the shaft tionary part, instead of upon the crank casing. The outer end of the adjustin screw shaft 13 extends through `a cap 2 that fits on the send of the crank shaft 6 and is provided with a collar 2 6 which engages the outer face of the cap. The hub abuts against the hub of the adjacent crank arm 9 and the screw shaft is thus held against longitudinal movement, but is free to be rotated by the longitudinal shift of the sleeve nut 1 As stated, the ins 18 on the inner end of the sleeve nut 1% extend through slots 19 in the outer end of the crank shaft 6 and through openings in the sleevel 20 to there-` by connect the nut to the crank shaft and" to the sleeve. r1`he nut is thereby held in xed relation to the crank shaft 6, and inasmuch as the nut is normally held against longitudinal movement by the sleeve 20 nir/gate the adjusting screw shaft 13, which is held against longitudinal movement, is also normally maintained in fixed relation to the crank shaft, that is to say, in cases where the cylinders and frame are stationary, the adjusting shaft 13 is normally maintained in fixed relation to the crank shaft 6 and rotates therewith and the intermeshing gears 14 and 15 on` the shaft 13 and eccentric sleeve 10 also rotate about the axis of the crank shaft and the eccentric sleeve 10 is thereby normally maintained in fixed relation to the crank pin and does not rotate thereon. When the shaft 13 is rotatably adjusted relatively to the crank shaft, the eccentric sleeve 10 is correspondingly adjusted relatively to the crank pin 10, but it is then maintained in its relative adjusted position. The present construction is exceedingly well adapted for varying the length of stroke and the compression of the circular series of cylinders connected to a common crank pin.

1n the particular form of motor shown, the circular series of cylinders 1 are not arranged exactly in radial position. rllhe crank shaft is slightly offset and the axes of the cylinders aretangent to a small circle struck about the axis of thel crank shaft. rlhe explosive mixture is drawn into these cylinders through the crank casing and each piston is provided with a spring-held inlet valve 28 and each opens automatically upon the suction stroke of the corresponding piston. r1`he head of each cylinder is provided with a suitable exhaust valve 29 which is operated in any suitable manner. rlhe arrangement of the valves is such that the adjustment of the piston within the cylinders does not affect their operation.

It is obvious that changes may be made'in the details set forth without departure from the essentials of the invention as defined in the claims.

1 claim as my invention.:-

1f In an explosion engine, the combination with the engine cylinder, piston, crank shaft and crank, of an eccentric rotatably mounted on said crank, a connecting rod coupled to 4Said piston and engaging said eccentric, a rotatable adjusting member concentric with said crank shaft and connected tocsaid eccentric, and means fornormally maintaining said adjusting member in xed relation to said crank shaft, substantially as described.

2. In an explosive engine, the combination with the engine cylinder, piston, crank shaft and crank, of an eccentric rotatably mounted on said crank, a connecting rod'coupled to said piston-and engaging said. eccentric, an adjusting shaft extending axially through said crank shaft, gearingfc'onnecting the inner end of said adjusting shaft and said eccentric, and means for rotating said adjusting shaft relatively to said crank shaft and f lill@ .Linnea casing and having crank arms therein, an

eccentric rotatably mounted between said crank arms, a connecting rod coupled to said piston and engaging said eccentric, an adjusting screw shaft extending axially through one end of said crank shaft, gears connecting said screw shaft and said eccentric, a nut engaging said screw shaft and connected to said crank shaft and means for shifting said nut in axial direction. j

4. In an explosive engine, the combination with the engine cylinder, piston, crank shaft and crank, an eccentric rotatably mountedupon said crank, a connecting rod coupled to said piston and engaging said eccentric, an adjusting screw shaft vextending axially through one end of said crank shaft and held against relative longitudinal movement, said screw shaft being rotatable relatively to said crank shaft, gears connecting said screw shaft and said eccentric, a nut engaging said screw shaft and connected to rotate with said crank shaft, said nut being shiftable in axial direction on said crank shaft, andv means for axially shifting said nut, substantially as described.

5. In an explosive engine, the combination with an engine cylinder, a piston and acrank shaft having crank arms and a crank pin, of an eccentric sleevel rotatably mounted onl said crank pin, a connecting rod coupled to said piston engaging said sleeve, a rotatable adjusting shaft extending axiallythrough v said crankshaft, and geared tosaid sleeve to rotatably adjust the same` relatively. l

to said crank pin,v and means for normally maintaining said adjusting relation to said crank shaft, substantially as described.

6. In an explosive engine, the combination `with the engine frame, of aplurality of cylinders mounted in a cirpcular series on said frame, pistons in said cylinders, a crank shaft journaled in said frame and having a commoncrank for said pistons, connecting rods coupled to said pistons, a common bearing member engaginguvsaid connecting rods and adjustably mounted 0n said crank, a rotatable adjusting member concentric 4with said crank shaft )and operatively connected to said bearing member, and means for normally maintaining said adjusting member in fixed relation to said crank shaft, vsubstantially as described. j

7. In an @Xplosive engine, the combination with a'circular series of cylinders, pistons in said cylinders and connecting rods coupled to said pistons, 'of a crank shaft having a common crank for said pistons, said crank comprising a pair of arms and' an eccentric rotatably mounted upon said arms and engaging said connecting rods, a ro/tatable adjusting member concentric with said crank shaft and geared to said eccentric and means for rotating said adjusting member relatively to said crank-shaft and arranged to normally maintain the same in fixed relation shaft .in fixed f to said crank shaft,l substantially as de- I scribed. f

c Witnesses: l

THEO. JOHNSON, WALLACE F. MACGREGOR. l

' AAGE 133. WINCKLER. 

